Port Talbot Harbourside work begins

Diversions as work to create industrial and office space gets underway

Port Talbot docklands
Author: Polly OliverPublished 18th Mar 2021

Work is set to begin next week on developing Port Talbot’s former docklands into a waterfront business and industrial centre.

Its hoped the regeneration of the Harbourside Strategic Employment Site will attract further private investment and push up jobs numbers.

Port Talbot based contractors Andrew Scott Ltd are working on the site which will provide land for industrial and office space.

The project includes remediation of former brownfield land, construction of access roads, the upgrading of an existing road and flood mitigation measures.

Diversions in place

From Monday localised traffic diversions will be in place on Harbour Way adjacent to the site for a period of approximately 14 weeks while a new culvert is constructed across the highway.

The improvement scheme, expected to take around ten months, has secured £2.7m worth of funding from the European Regional Development Fund via the Welsh Government.

Over £6 million from green technology centre

Work has already started on part of the Supporting Innovation and Low Carbon Growth project, the self powering technology centre building currently under construction at the Baglan Bay Energy Park.

That’s expected to be worth £6.2m a year to the local economy once all projects are operational. More than 1,300 jobs will be created or safeguarded, with at least 30% of these to be new.

The green facility will provide flexible office space for start-up companies and growing local businesses with a focus on the Research and Development and Innovation sectors.

Cllr Annette Wingrave, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainable Development, said:

“This improvement project will enable the site for future development with the jobs and investment which come with that. It will also provide additional car parking to support the development of the sites in the former docks area.

“This important project will contribute to the continued development of Harbourside, the Port Talbot Waterfront Enterprise Zone and the wider Swansea Bay City Region and its various projects.”